Top Seven Things to do in Prague (Czech Republic)

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guest post by Amy Baker

Prague has been a political, cultural and economic centre of Europe since it came into existence over 1000 years ago. Its central location in Europe means that it has played a key role in the World Wars and the post-Communist era. Despite the violence and destruction so apparent in the region around that time, many of Prague’s major attractions survived. The sheer number of places to visit may leave your head spinning so we have compiled a list of some of the things that you absolutely must do when visiting the Czech capital.

1 – Prague Castle

This imposing castle dominates the city’s skyline and many lucky visitors will enjoy breath-taking views from their Prague hotels. The different styles of the castle go a long way in illustrating the shifting demands of the castles various occupants over the years. Inside the castle walls you should take the time to explore the gothic inspired St Vitus’s Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, the Basilica of St George and Lobkowicz Palace, which now houses a fascinating museum.

2 – Drink beer

It’s unlikely that you will need any encouragement but just in case you do; Czech beer is known to be some of the best in the world and the locals regard it as a national treasure. Waiters in Prague restaurants or bars will happily offer an opinion on which ones they think are the best but a few not to be missed include; Gambrinius, Kozul’s Medium and Pilsner Urquell.

3 – Charles Bridge

As potentially the biggest attraction in the city, make sure that you go early in the morning or in the evening to avoid the throngs of tourists being shuffled around on their guided tours. This landmark links the two main centres of the Old Town and is the gateway for those heading towards the castle on foot.

4 – Eat

Although cold smoked mackerel, raw beef on deep fried toast and bits of meat suspended in ‘head cheese’ may not sound that appetising, they are. Plus they are the perfect accompaniment to the local brews. We’re not claiming that they are healthy but you’re on holiday so enjoy them while you can. To find out more about where to best sample some traditional Czech dishes head to mydestination.com/prague.

5 – The Jewish Quarter

This areas haunting past makes this an absolute must on your visit to Prague. The Jewish Quarter is a tiny area that was home to the city’s Jewish population and, up until the 1700’s, was completely walled off from the rest of the city.

6 – Revive with Coffee

Prague is a very bohemian and arty city and that lends itself to having a wonderful café culture. There are numerous coffee houses to be found in decadent, historical buildings where some of the city’s most famous residents such as Albert Einstein, used to take a break and get their caffeine fix. You will stumble across delightful establishments all around the city but the Old Town is perhaps the best area to revive yourself with a latte.

7 – Hit the bars

With little or no safety regulations or political correctness, it’s very much a case of ‘anything goes’ when it comes to Prague nightlife. Head to Zizkov, the city’s main nightlife area, which packs in nearly 300 bars into just two square miles. Expect to find laid back, arty locals downing beer from plastic cups.

Get lost in Prague, enjoy it’s exciting history and fascinating culture. We guarantee you’ll wish you had decided to stay a few more days.

Czech Tease (Czech Republic)

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Across the south of the Czech Republic are three delightful small medieval travel wonders all featuring magical central squares and rich histories. Only an hour by bus from each other, the alliterative Třeboň, Telč and Třebíč (from west to east) can be covered in a couple of days.

Třeboň is constructed on marshland with an ingenious usage of canals, dykes, medieval artificial lakes and fish ponds to manage flooding. With a stunning main cobble stoned square of traditional pastel-painted buildings (great viewing by climbing the town hall tower), the town is best experienced by cycling a path around the canals through a series of historic mini-villages and forests, highlighting the success of the historic fishing industry. There is a pleasant short walk around the intact city walls with its five gates and protective bastions. The black peat from the marshes is used in spa treatments that are accompanied with the usual medicinal claims for ailing joints and respiratory systems. More medicinal is the fine fish soup, impossibly fresh fish dishes or beer from the local Regent brewery.

Telč is a small town with little more than one long medieval cobble stoned street of stunning facades in a multitude of pastel-colours linking the majestic main square with the lavish Water Chateau (highlighted by a superb gilded ballroom). It is one of the finest squares in all of Europe, meriting UNESCO world-heritage listing. On each side of this village are artificial fish ponds built over six hundred years ago providing both food and defence. Virtually nothing has changed in over 250 years in this tiny town, giving a wonderful restful feel. Munch on a calorific pastry from one of the several bakeries on the square.

Třebíč is a treasured historic town that mixed a Jewish and Christian population for centuries. Aside from the huge main square with its typical pastel-coloured facades, it is the evocative Jewish Ghetto and cemetery and the oversized Gothic basilica (originally a monastery) that is the highlight of the town and has attracted UNESCO listing. Unlike the tourist madhouse of Prague’s Jewish quarter, Třebíč’s peaceful narrow cobblestone lanes and quiet houses feel frozen in time with almost none of the population surviving World War Two. The nearby cemetery leaves an almost eerie feeling with the numerous headstones, darkened over the centuries with algae and dirt, poking up at all angles like a horror dental job, surrounded by rough shrubs and bushes.

These three small Czech towns are best enjoyed exploring the narrow lanes, peering in the historic buildings, chatting in the street-side cafes and walking the rivers and lakes. Select at least one stopover on the way to Slovakia and enjoy the peaceful ambiance of a Czech village.

Other Czech Posts
Czeching Out the Capital (Prague)
Czech Out the Castles
Drinks Around the World - Becherovka

Drinks Around the World: Becherovka (Czech Republic)

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A group of travel bloggers are in their third month of celebrating a drink of the month.

With a recent focus on the Czech Republic with a tour of Prague and a guide to seven of the best Czech castles, this months offering comes from this popular central European country.

Becherovka is a drink based on a bewildering array of secret herbs and spices including cinnamon and aniseed. It has an intense fragrant flavour that is slightly bitter. Many enjoy it with tonic or soda water though I preferred it neat. Though previously difficult to find, it has started to appear on occasional shelves in Sydney and undoubtedly other countries around the world.

To add mystery to the product, only two people are rumoured to know the secret recipe handed down through the last two hundred years.

So here is a na zdraví to all those international drinkers at our mid-year cocktail party.

Other Drinks Around the World
Chimay Beer (Belgium)
Pisco Sour (Peru and Chile)

Czech Out the Castles - Part Two (Czech Republic)

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The Czech Republic has the most castles per square kilometre of any country in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. This article features four impressive castles near to Prague to be added to the three UNESCO-listed Czech castles featured in part one.

Konopiště Castle (top photo) was home to the Archduke Franz Ferdinand whose shooting in Bosnia began World War 1 (the actual bullet is on display in the castle). Though built in the 14th century, it is furnished around 1900 and includes the modern conveniences of the time including a flushing toilet, running water and a lift. Somewhat morbidly, the Archduke was a passionate hunter credited with killing over 300,000 animals. The castle including numerous hunting trophies, a shooting gallery (with moving targets), stunning gardens and forests and an extensive collections of medieval arms.

Karlštejn Castle is a photogenic Gothic castle just outside of Prague. Built by Charles IV (the same Charles who has numerous structures named in his honour in Prague) in the mid-1300s to hold the Bohemian crown jewels (now in Prague Castle). The interior of the castle is dull with the exception of the striking Holy Cross Chapel in the Great Tower (the tallest building), guarded by four metre thick walls. The chapel contains pictures of all Czech saints and is richly decorated in gold leaf and in-laid gemstones. Visiting the chapel is difficult and needs advanced purchase tickets.

Hluboká Castle is a gleaming white almost-fairytale Gothic castle in the south of the Czech Republic near České Budějovice (Budweis in German, where the original Budweiser Beer was created and brewed). The interior is typically regal with sumptuous but impractical furnishings and decorated with striking tapestries and paintings.

Křivoklát Castle is a medieval castle set among scenic rolling forested hills, only a short distance west of Prague. Celebrating its 900th year, it served as a brutal prison in the middle ages with a torture chamber and a variety of nasty instruments still on display. A superb library of historic books, knight's dining hall and elegant chapel highlight the castle’s interior while its strategic defensive capabilities are evident throughout. In the courtyard, displays of middle-aged trades are displayed including blacksmithing, wood-carving and ceramics.

The Czech Republic spent centuries at the crossroads of cultures, empires and religions leaving a rich fabric of castles. Enjoy these seven travel wonders that are among the jewels of castles with superb architecture and fascinating histories.

Czech Out the Castles - Part One (Czech Republic)

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The travel wonder of Prague Castle and the spires of St Vitus Cathedral overlooking the Vltava River (top photo) is one of Europe's most enduring images. Central to a number of prominant Prague hotels and being at a focal point of European history, Prague Castle is only one of a number of enchanting, historic or ornate castles around the Czech Republic. This article highlights seven other castles sprinkled across the Czech Republic worthy of a visit - the first three heritage listed by UNESCO and the final four within a couple of hours of Prague.

Litomyšl Castle's detailed decorations are in a style called sgraffito where different coloured plasters are applied to the walls and then scratched to produce outlines of varying colours. The striking design gives the aristocratic feel of a French chateau. A still accurate 1728 sundial sits in the courtyard. Furthermore, the castle is treasured as the birthplace of the country’s most famous composer, Bedřich Smetana, known locally as “the father of Czech music” and which is sometimes played in the attached original Baroque theatre (one of only five in the world). The nearby main square is huge for such a small town and truly elegant with renaissance houses painted in a variety of pastel colours.

Lednice Castle was owned by the Princes of Liechtenstein until communist rule after World War 2. Denuded of all its furniture by the departing family, it has been restored to some of its former glory. The interior includes stunning oriental wallpapers and a staggering wooden staircase, hand-carved from one immense piece of hardwood with intricate railings. Outside is a huge park including the chance of a boat ride down the meandering river highlighting a towering out-of-place minaret (ready for a call-to-prayer) and a purpose-built ruined castle, purely for decoration.

Kroměříž Castle is the baroque palace of the local archbishops in the east of the country. The castle has a historic library and some fine paintings but the highlight is the surrounding formal garden complete with ornate symmetric designs, colourful blooms, crisply clipped hedges and elegant statues. The gardens have a lot of the style of the best of the French chateaux with their precision, creativity and floral opulence. The phenomenal garden has earned this castle its UNESCO heritage listing.

Four more Czech castles are featured in part two.

Czeching Out the Capital (Prague, Czech Republic)

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As it emerges from hijacking by Russian communism for 43 years, the travel wonder of Prague remains the glittering diamond of architectural and cultural Europe. A millennium’s worth of magnificent and stylish buildings must deep down be the envy of every city in the world. Rich in culture with an inspiring history of kings, writers and musicians, royal palaces, cathedrals, theatres, art galleries and opera houses sit among smoke-filled bars (after all, the Czechs invented beer), buzzing nightclubs and a general youthful exuberance for life.

This quick tour will try to capture this extraordinary gem and one of my favorite European cities in a few short words. But Prague needs time to wander the ancient streets, feel the lively atmosphere and experience this burgeoning Czech capital.

Standing aloft of Prague and dominating its skyline, Prague Castle (hrad) is a vast mind-boggling collection of churches, palaces, gardens and statues built in a variety of architectures linked by courtyards and narrow alleyways. The Gothic St Vitus Cathedral is characterised by gloriously colorful stained glass windows.

The nearby Old Royal Palace includes a massive hall with vaulted ceilings large enough to host indoor jousting tournaments. The staircase at one end is designed as an entrance for mounted horses with broad steps.

Check out St. George Basilica on the way to the old goldsmith street called Golden Lane. Lined with colorful 16th century cottages, today this narrow cobblestoned street is packed with tourists and souvenir shops but remains worthy of a visit.

Around dusk, enjoy a stroll across the Vltava River on Charles Bridge which has connected the Castle area to the Old Town (Staré Mešto). Bedecked with 30 religious statues, this 600 year old bridge was the only passage across the river until the 19th century.

End your day with a cooling beer (the Czechs have the highest per capita consumption of beer) in one of Prague’s numerous great pubs or microbreweries. Indeed, the only word I can remember from the bewildering Slavic-based Czech language is pivo (beer). One great custom is that a new beer arrives at your table just as you finish the previous one. You only need to tell the waiter when you want to stop by simply putting the beer mat on top of your glass.

One uniquely Czech liquor worth trying is the smooth, flavorsome and slightly bitter Becherovka, with its numerous secret herbs and spices -many more than KFC - and much tastier and more enjoyable to boot. It makes for a great pre-dinner drink.

Start your next day in the historic Jewish Quarter (Josefov) includes an evocative, emotional museum area (including five synagogues) memorializing over 600 years of suffering and oppression. Two poignant memories from this area will remain with me forever. To the humble background reading of the victims’ names, the Pinkas Synagogue (now a memorial) is inscribed with the handwritten names of 77,297 Czech (and Slovak) Jews who were killed (primarily in concentration camps) in World War 2, along with their date of birth and disappearance date. Upstairs is a display of artwork from children held in the Terezín concentration camp.

Out the back of this synagogue, experience the mournful atmosphere of over 12,000 tombstones in the tiny Jewish cemetery. Being the only location for Jewish burial for some 350 years until 1787, tombs were piled on top of each other – over 100,000 graves are estimated to lie in this small melancholy setting.



Refresh with an over-priced coffee in Prague’s historic Old Town Square. A market area for over 900 years, this thriving square of hawkers, buskers, horse buggies, tourists and locals is encased with elegantly architected pastel buildings of a past age and is overlooked by the towering gothic Týn church.

The mesmerising Astronomical Clock has been keeping time in the Old Square for over 500 years. On the hour, Death turns his hourglass, the twelve apostles parade by and the rooster crows. The time is shown in a 24-hour clock (midday is at the top and midnight is at the bottom), along with the phase of the moon and the zodiacal sign of the sun and the moon. The lower clock reveals the day of the year (along with the associated saint) and twelve seasonal rural pictures.

There is so much more to see and enjoy in Prague. More like a boulevard, the New Town’s (Nové Mešto) Wenceslas Square is where over quarter of a million Czechoslovakians gathered every night for two weeks in 1989 to see the end of communism during the so-called Velvet Revolution. With its cultural traditions, it was appropriate that the new president was a poet. Nearby and sometimes lit with candles, is a moving memorial to Jan Palach who burned himself to death in 1969 in protest of the Soviet invasion of his country.

The fortress area of Vyšehrad, the beguiling Municipal House and a number of churches, gardens and museums all add to the wonderful experience of this golden treasure of travel wonders, the incomparable Prague.